Brave Wallaroos defy red cards to beat Scotland in Rugby World Cup thriller |

Australia’s women’s rugby side have put their World Cup hopes back on track with an Ashley Marsters try in the 73rd minute, securing a thrilling comeback win in their second match of the campaign against Scotland in Whangarei, New Zealand.

After their heartbreaking implosion against New Zealand’s Black Ferns in the opening round, the Wallaroos trailed all game against Scotland only to cross twice in the final 20 minutes of game time to post a crucial first victory of the campaign. Australia’s Eva Karpani, Grace Hamilton and Sharni Williams were standouts in the triumph.

Wallaroos skipper Shannon Parry said it “wasn’t pretty” but lauded her players for the way they stayed in the fight. “It was nerve-wracking. It was a real tough battle against Scotland, they really showed us how to play some footy there today,” Parry told Stan Sport. “I’m immensely proud. We gutted it out all the way to the end – an 80 minute performance – and to come away with that victory, it’s a really good reward.

“We didn’t play as good, as clinical as we wanted to but we’ll take the points. We’re still alive in this tournament, and that’s what matters.”

The Wallaroos’ win consigned the Scots to consecutive last-gasp defeats. Taking part in their first Rugby World Cup in 12 years, Scotland had last week lost a heartbreaker in the opening round, kicked from what might have been a famous comeback victory into a narrow 85th-minute 18-15 defeat by a Keira Bevan’s post-siren penalty.

The Highlanders showed they were chasing revenge when they started with gusto, rocking the Wallaroos by jumping to an early lead when veteran Scottish frontrower Lana Skeldon charged over in the ninth minute from the maul for the opening five-pointer, 11 years after making her Test debut for Scotland against the Netherlands.

Then, in the 18th minute dominant Scottish flier Rhona Lloyd scooted away for what seemed a certain try. Somehow recovering from the bone-rattling tackle of Iliseva Batibasaga to retrieve the lost ball behind her, Lloyd then ducked under a pack of gold defenders into yawning space, then flew into a yawning gap with the line wide open.

But, in desperate scenes, Wallaroos winger Maya Stewart then fullback Lori Cramer swooped from left and right to hit Lloyd from either side and spilled the ball free just before she crossed. It was a massive save and proved crucial to the final result.

Especially when the Scots extended their lead in the 27th minute with a penalty try, after their forward drive to the line was collapsed by Adiana Talakai who compounded the seven-point gift by being sent to the bin with a yellow card. It took Scotland’s lead to 12-0 at halftime and left Australia’s World Cup hanging by a thread.

In their first pool match at Eden Park, the Wallaroos had defended stoutly and taken their chances in attack and counterattack, to seize on New Zealand mistakes and go 17-0 at halftime. But before over 40,000 Kiwi fans, the…